Academics

In place for more than 40 years, the five-state WWAMI program is internationally recognized as a model program for high-quality, cost-effective training of physicians and other health professionals in rural areas.

First-year students at the Idaho WWAMI site take an intense academic load during their initial years of medical training. Students complete a total of 48 graduate credits in both the basic biomedical sciences and clinical medical education. Beginning with the E2015 class, students will be located in Moscow for 18 months. The UW School of Medicine has adopted a new curriculum that allows Idaho residents to spend all four years in Idaho. Historically the WWAMI students would spend their first year at the regional campus and then complete their second year in Seattle on the UW main campus. With this curriculum renewal, the second year content was merged with the first year to create an 18 month model that incorporates an integrated curriculum with enhanced clinical preparation. This 18 month curriculum is called the Foundations Phase. In the third and fourth years students will have their clerkship rotations which is called the Clinical Phase of the curriculum. All medical students will still have a required clerkship rotation at a large quaternary hospital in Seattle, but will be able to have a more invested regional experience if they choose.